There is associated evidence for murage, dated 30/7/1303, concerning Dublin.
Wording
Edward I., on petition of the citizens of Dublin, directs his justiciary to inquire concerning the fishing-net formerly fixed near the bridge of Dublin, its annual value, and why it was removed ; also to hold inquisition respecting the state of the pavement of the city for the improvement of which the citizens pray a renewal of their murage grant. The jurors say that the king's ancestors anciently had a net in the Liffey of the annual value of ten pounds. That in the forty-fifth year of king Henry III. a dispute concerning it arose between the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and the mayor and commonalty of Dublin. The prior and his men, by force of arms, broke the net, and the mayor and citizens thereupon prostrated a mill of the prior. The removal of the net was subsequently agreed to by common consent. The jurors find that all the ways of the city are in a bad condition, hurtful to horse and foot passengers, that pavement would be advantageous; and that a grant of customs to the citizens would not prejudice the king or others. Edward I. hereupon grants to his bailiffs and good men of Dublin renewal of charter to levy tolls in their city.
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Edwardus, Dei gratia, rex Anglie, dominus Hibernie, et dux Aquitanie, dilecto et fideli suo Johanni Wogan, justiciario suo Hibernie, vel ejus locum tenenti, salutem.
Quia dutum est nobis intelligi quod pavimentum civitatis nostre Dubline adeo est dirutum et confractum, quod transitus per eandum civitatem nocvus extat transeuntibus et dampnosus; per quod cives civitatis ejusdem nos rogarunt ut eis consimiles consuetudines quas eis nuper concessimus, pro muragio, ad civitatum predictam claudendam, de rebus venalibus, ad ipsam civitatem venientibus percipiendas in auxilium civitatis predicte paviende, et pre melioracione ejusdem, concedere dignaremur.
Volentes eorundem civium precibus, quatinus absque nostri, seu aliorum prejudicio, fieri poterit, annuere, in hac parte, vobis mandamus, quod, per sacramentum proborum et legalium hominium parcium illarum, per quos rei veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inquiratis, si sit ad dampnum, vel prejudicium, nostrum aut aliorum, si concedamus predictis civibus quod ipsi consimiles consuetudines quales de concessione nostra predicta, pro muragio ad civiatem predictam claudendam, percipere consueverunt, percipere valeant per quinquennium necne.
Et si sit ad dampnum vel prejudicium nostrum, aut aliorum, tune ad quod dampnum, et quod dampnum, et quod prejudicium, et quorum et qualiter, et quo modo?
Et inquisicionem inde distincte et apte factum, una cum transcripto litterarum, nostrarum, de consuetudininibus predictis, prefatis civibus pro muragio ad civitatem predictam claudendam concessarum, nobis, sub sigillo vestro et sigillis eorum per quos inquisicio illa facta fuerit, sine dilacione mittatis et hoc breve.
Teste, me ipso, apud villam sancti Johannis de Perth, tercio die Julii, anno regni nostri tricesimo primo.
Granted by Edward I. (Regnal year 31). Granted at villam sancti Johannis de Perth.
Primary Sources
Gilbert, J.T. (ed), 1870, Historical and Municipal Documents of Ireland, From the Archives of the City of Dublin &c. 1172-1320 (Rerum Britannicarum Medii Aevi Scriptores - Rolls Series) p. 217-8
Comments
Gilbert includes the above in a section LX. Dublin Fishery, Streets, and Tolls, A.D. 1302-3 and gives the reference 'Inquisitions post mortem, xxxi, Edward i, no. 153 - Public Record Office, London.' The Calendar entry of this reads "D'nus Rex de inquirend'. Dublyn civitas de pavimento ibidem & de libertate piscandi in aqua de Aunlis' Hibern'"
The dating of the inquiry seems to be after the date of the murage grant.
Record created by Philip Davis. This record created 11/02/2009. Last updated on 08/01/2013. First published online 9/01/2013.
